Obituary

Louis D. Christensen

June 18, 1933 - March 4, 2011

Louis D. Christensen, 77, passed away March 4, 2011 in Payson, Ariz. He was a cheerful and loving father, stepfather, husband, grandfather and great-grandfather.A memorial service was held March 19 in Sun City. A memorial service will also be held at First Presbyterian Church in Valparaiso, Ind. with Rev. Gretchen Gibbs officiating. Interment will take place at National Memorial Cemetery in North Phoenix.Mr. Christensen was born June 18, 1933 in Kankakee, Ill. to Humphrey and Lucille Carlson Christensen who preceded him in death.On Oct. 1, 1955, he married Sandra Seborg Christensen who preceded him in death on March 3, 1978.On Nov. 4, 1978, he married Ann Uzeta Christensen who survives in Payson. He was preceded in death by his stepgrandsons Shawn and Justin Beaudin.In addition to his wife, he is survived by his sister, Dorothy Christensen Tyson (Wade) Adams of Venice, Fla.; his children, Carolyn Christensen (Jim) Friend of LaPorte, Ind., Robert L. Christensen of LaPorte, Ind., Wendy Christensen (Paul) Ihms of Gilbert and Audrey Christensen (Donny) Rossetti of Valparaiso, Ind.; and grandchildren, Cassie and Caitlin Friend, Courtney and Brooke Ihms, Riana and Erik Christensen, and Taylor and Braedon Rossetti. Mr. Christensen is also survived by his special stepchildren, Dede (Bobby) Valdez, Don, Ron and David Lash, and grandchildren and great-grandchildren.After graduating from Kankakee High School, he graduated from the University of Illinois in 1955.As an Air Force 2nd Lieutenant, Mr. Christensen was the lead officer for the Air Traffic Control Aerospace Defense Command at the northern border in Minnesota. Later, he was a lead officer in Germany guarding West Berlin airspace against the Soviet Union during the Cold War. During this time, he participated on the Air Force pistol shooting team competing in Florida.Mr. Christensen also worked as a department manager and customer service manager at a number of J. C. Penney stores in Illinois and Indiana, and as a financial counselor at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Michigan City, Ind.He was a member of SPEBSQSA, now known as Barbershop Harmony Society, in both northern Indiana and in Arizona.While living in Michigan City, he was a member of First Presbyterian Church and was a volunteer for the March of Dimes.Memorials may be made to www.Nationalmssociety.org.